Because of You Read Online Free PDF Page A

happening.” I rip off my shirt and toss the smelly thing into my hamper. My bra is stained too and I unhook it, throwing it into the hamper as well. Pulling off my jeans, I kick them near the hamper and put on an oversized t-shirt. It was my dad’s. Across the front are the words:
Bellam Sprints Police Force
.
    I curl into bed, pulling my comforter around me for warmth and protection. I lay there crying for a long time, until the sun comes up and I finally sleep.



Maddie
    door slams and I blink, sitting up. “Wha—” I rub sleep from my eyes and work to focus on Gina. She’s still wearing her slinky black dress, but her makeup is smeared and she has bed-head.
    “Why did you leave the party?” She sits gingerly on the edge of her bed, grabbing a fluffy cream teddy bear from the rumpled covers and squeezing.
    I don’t answer. Warning bells are flashing behind my eyes. Something’s wrong. “Gina,” I stand and move to sit next to her. “Are you…okay?”
    She waves me away. “Yeah.”
    I notice her lashes are wet. She sniffs and lies down on her side.
    “I asked for it.” She rolls over, facing the wall.
    I stand there, unsure whether to comfort her or leave her alone. My homeschooling days haven’t prepared me for real interpersonal relationships. I’m not sure what she thinks she asked for, but I’m terrified for her.
    I’ve been sheltered since I went to live with my aunt and uncle. They’re only in their late 50’s, but they act older. “Technology is not our friend” is my aunt’s motto, while my uncle always says, “Remember the Titans.” Neither saying makes any sense to me. They own one TV and one DVD player. All they watch are sitcoms from the sixties and seventies like
I Dream of Genie, The Brady Bunch,
and
Bewitched
. Occasionally my uncle will watch old movies. His favorite is
Remember the Titans
. He says it’s because “It’s a story of true friendship combined with football, and there’s nothing better.” Sometimes I watch TV with them, but mostly I prefer to read the dusty classics tucked away in old boxes, or practice piano.
    Finally I whisper to Gina, “Can I get you something? A coffee?” I hope that sounds appropriate. I’m astonished at the gnawing worry in my gut. But it’s there, and I’m concerned. Just because I hurt doesn’t mean I want anyone else to.
    She turns over gently. I see she’s crying. “Why do you care if I’m okay?”
    I realize she’s flinging my words from last night back at me. My first instinct is to agree and walk out. But she’s hugging the teddy bear so tightly I feel sorry for it.
    I sigh and sit on her bed. “I think it’s because you and I are meant to be friends. And friends care about each other. If you’re sad, I want to help.” My voice sounds more calm, more sure than I feel.
    Two enormous tears drop on her pillow. “You mean it? You don’t think I’m outrageous?”
    I force back a snort at her choice of word. She’s the epitome of outrageous with her crazy outfits, hair, and makeup. Even her black boots scream
outrageous
. She seems to know it though, because she eases one hand from the stranglehold she has on the bear and picks up the edge of her dress.
    I force myself to smile. “I think your outrageousness is going to be one of my favorite things about you.”
    My hands are tucked into the end of my shirt, but I feel like I need to comfort her somehow. I grab a tissue from the table between our beds and hand it to her. She takes it and wipes her eyes, then blows. When she’s finished, she chucks the wadded tissue toward the trash. It lands on the end of her bed. She reeks of alcohol and cigarettes.
    “You wanna talk about it?” I ask.
    She takes a deep breath, yanks off her boots, and lies back down. “First I need to sleep off this hangover.” She pulls her covers up and rolls over.
    “ ‘Kay,” I say softly, surprised I’m not hungover. At least I don’t think I am. I’m tired, and it feels like I have